Cape Carteret to revisit mayoral term extension

A second vote is required if the Town of Cape Carteret plans on extending the term of mayor to four years.

JANNETTE PIPPIN Daily News Staff

A second vote is required if the Town of Cape Carteret plans on extending the term of mayor to four years.

The Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 during Monday night’s regular meeting in favor of the change, but approval from two-thirds of the board is required to adopt the ordinance to amend the town charter on a first reading.

Commissioner Richard Hunt cast the opposing vote and Commissioner Tara Patterson was absent from the meeting due to work obligations.

The issue will be placed on the agenda for the August regular meeting for a second vote.

Mayor Dave Fowler said there are steps set out under state statute that towns must follow to amend their charter and the town is being careful to do so.

“We’re following the process that’s in place,” he said.

The town is considering extending the mayoral term from two years to four years. If approved it would not take effect until the 2015 municipal elections.

Four votes were required to make the change on a first reading.

In August, only a simple majority of the board, or three votes, will be required to adopt the required ordinance on second reading.

Patterson has expressed support for a four-year term for mayor and brought up the topic at the board’s May work session, which began the board’s formal discussions of the change.

Commissioner Tara Patterson brought up the topic at the board’s May work session and set in motion formal discussions of the issue.

The town board agreed to consider a change in the mayoral term but chose not to make any changes to current staggered system of electing the board.

Currently the mayor is elected every two years and commissioners are elected on a staggered basis. Every two years, three of the five commissioner seats are up for election, with the top two vote getters getting four-year terms and the third a two-year term.